Art Deco stained glass ideas

Notes by Donald K. Burleson

January 2012

- Do you know the origin of some of these old sayings?

- Do you know some new country sayings?

If so, please send me an e-mail at

The south is full of quaint
sayings, and I'm starting this list to document some of the more
interesting old proverbs and colorful sayings. Some are
just cute, but some old saying offer profound wisdom into the
fundamentals of human nature:

He has enough money to burn a wet mule. (origin 1800's).
Somebody with a lot of disposable income.

The wood on that tree is doted. (pronounced "dote-ed")
A rural expression for half-rotted wood.

That is to much pumpkin for a nickel. Meaning it's more
trouble then it's worth.

I took a preachers seat (or "he took a preachers
seat") - when someone fell flat on their butt, either on the ground or in
the creek or wherever! Origin unknown.

If ifs' and buts' were candy and nuts,
everyday would be Christmas - A fellow with too many excuses.
Related to "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride"

Forty going north - To do something
with great gusto and enthusiasm. - Origin is 19th century, but
unknown source.

Root hog or die - This means that we
all must work hard to survive - Origin 19th century but unknown.

Mommas baby - Daddy's, maybe -
In genealogy, tracking
bloodlines through the father is certain to go wrong.

He looks like he's been rode hard and put up wet -
Referring to a horse that has foundered by not being properly cooled-off
after riding, a lame person.

Useless as teats on a boar pig - A
reference to a bad worker.

Even a blind hog finds a nut every now and then
- similar to the Yankee saying "even a stopped click is right twice
a day"

.

That dog will hunt - A method that will
be successful.

Never take a wooden nickel - A type of
"goodbye", reminding people to be careful with Yankees.

Nobody will ever notice it on a galloping
horse - Don't be too self-conscious about your appearance.

He's as poor as Job's turkey - Origin
unknown.

You can't make a silk purse out of a sows
ear - You cannot change the fundamental nature of things, so matter how
hard you try.

He's two bricks short of a load -
Someone with a mental deficiency, dropped on their head as a baby.

Marry in haste, repent in leisure -
From William Congreve in his comedy of manners The Old Batchelour,
1693: "Thus grief still treads upon the heels of pleasure: Married in
haste, we may repent at leisure."

He ain't got a pot to pee in - To be
very poor.

Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil -
Stop lying

Don't nothing hurt a duck but his bib -
Origin unknown.

You can't hold water - You can't can't
keep a secret

I'm going to talk to a man about a cow
- When you got business to take care of.

She looks like she's been beaten with a bag
of nickels - Similar to "she was beaten by the ugly stick".

A hard head makes a soft behind
-Being stubborn can result in punishment.

A guilty dog barks the loudest -
A dishonest man will be the first to tell you how honest he is.

If
I put his brain in a nat's butt, it would fly backwards - A really
stupid person.

Wish in one hand and spit in the other and see which one fills up
first -

I would not trust him in a sh**house with a muzzle -
Someone that you cannot trust.

If you can't race it or take it to bed, you don't need it

You plant a tater, you get a tater

You can't unsay a cruel word

Don't sell your mule to buy a plow

That's how the cow ate the cabbage

She has a butt like a forty dollar mule

He couldn't hit the broad side of a barn

She's about as useful as buttons on a dishrag

He runs just like a candle

She slapped him like a red-headed stepchild

He's all over it like files on sh*t

He was the turd in the punchbowl

You can catch more files with honey than with vinegar

Built like a brick sh**house

He's steal the bridle off a nightmare

Dumber than a road lizard

He's nuttier than a squirrel turd

Good fences make good neighbors

She could eat an apple through a picket fence

He's tougher than a two dollar steak

He's as mad as a wet hen

Sober as a judge

I wouldn't give him the sweat off my balls

That's as scarce as hen's teeth

That ain't worth the powder to blow it to hell

That's finer than frog's hair

"He's got molasses in his britches" - means you're lazy

Note:The
opinions expressed on these pages are the sole opinion of Donald K. Burleson
and do not reflect the opinions of Burleson Enterprises Inc. or any of its
subsidiaries.

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